Costly price paid for independence

Happy Independence Day, friends!

Today marks 247 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. A lot has happened since then. We reap the benefits even while some erode before our very eyes. Let us take a few minutes to remember, to pray, and to give thanks.

A bit of history

The first shots of the Revolutionary War pierced the air on the morning of April 19, 1775, after years of unrest. The unrest began after Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder became ill and couldn’t implement his plans. Charles Townshend replaced Pitt’s agenda with the Townshend Acts that took effect, circa 1767. British troops arrived to quell the violence caused by these acts in October 1768.

As the crisis escalated, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in September 1774, to discuss their rights as colonists. Feeling unheard, a conflict was inevitable. The first shots between the British troops and Minutemen echoed in Lexington; no one knows which side started it.

The Second Continental Congress met in May 1775. While they still hoped to avoid separation, they prepared for war, naming George Washington commander in chief, and raising an army.  Eight years spent wrestling with the parliament to be heard resulted in this revolution.

A long-sought independence

On July 4, 1776, they adopted the Declaration of Independence and sent it out to the colonies. They seceded from Britain because the reconciliation had failed. The war didn’t end until the Treaty of Paris was signed in September of 1783. Even after eight long years of war, much work had to be done.

The Constitution replaced the weak Articles of Confederation. The last of the 13 states ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790, and the Bill of Rights were added in 1791, 232 years ago.

Do you realize how much time elapsed from the initial injustice?

Every Fourth of July, we celebrate with parades, family picnics, games with friends and family, and fireworks. Time passes, and many take our great country for granted. We think we’ll always have the freedoms our forefathers established for us. When we fall into this mindset, we’re on dangerous ground.

Teach your children what Constitution really says

Our children need to learn the history of our nation and what the Constitution actually says. Just like words from the Bible can be taken out of context, so can the words of our Constitution. How can one say he believes the Bible if he hasn’t read it? How will one know if someone is taking something out of context if he isn’t familiar with the real texts? The same goes with our Constitution.

The Bill of Rights, the First 10 Amendments to the Constitution guarantee freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, the right to assembly, the right to appeal to the government for action, the right to keep weapons, the right to not quarter soldiers in private homes, the right to privacy of homes from illegal searches, the right to a trial by jury, the right to have a lawyer, the right to have witnesses for their defense and to be protected from being tried twice for the same crime, to retain any rights not defined in the Constitution, and for the states to have power not delegated to the federal government.

As Christian writers, we rely on the first amendment’s freedom of religion, speech, and press.

Liberties shouldn’t be taken for granted

We share our words without fear now. People in other countries don’t have these liberties. They should never be taken for granted.

God places us in this time and place. He gives us our ultimate freedom when we trust Him for direction and for the words He wants us to share.

Let us not forget the price paid for what we celebrate today. Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice for us and for sending your Holy Spirit to fill us and direct us in our actions and words.

Thank you to all those who serve and have served to protect our freedoms. We can never repay the debts paid for us.

As the fireworks bang, pop, and fizz in the dark sky tonight, count your blessings, talk about these things with your children, lest we forget.

God bless you, and God bless America.

How are you spending Independence Day today?

Photo by Elisha Terada on Unsplash.